Car-axle-box lid.



H. C. GAMAGE.

GAR AXLB BOX LID. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25,1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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H. C. GAMAGB. GAR AXLB Box LID.

APPLIOATIGN FILED APR.25.1908. 913,371, l vPatented Feb. 23, 1909.

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Y., ASSIGNOR TO D. P. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAR-AXLE-BOX LID.

No. erevr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed-April 25, 1908; Serial No. 429,166.

To f alli/whom ivi-may concern'.

Be it known that I, HARRY C. GAMAGE, a citizenofthe United States, residing at New York, in'I the county of New York and State of NewsYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oar-Axle-Box Lids, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relatestolids for car axle bodies and consists in the construction hereinafter set forth, whereby the lid is held in closed position and also prevented from displacement by the vertical jolting of the car, by resilient means disposed within the box.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a car axle box, showing my improved lid in closed position, in full lines, and in open position, in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the lid, showing the lower part of the box in cross section, the upper part of the box being broken away.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.

1 is a car axle box of the usual standard form. The lid 2 is made preferably of sheet metal and is provided with flanges 3 to extend over the edges of the opening in the box. The lid extends somewhat beyond the lower edge 5 of said opening and the bottom flange 6 is of less width than the other flanges; so that a space 4 intervenes between the box and the inner edge of said flange 6. On the inner side of the lid 1 is a packing gasket 7, and inside the gasket is a metal plate 8 having at its upper side, a turned over flange 9 which is partly cut away and provided with heads 10 at both ends. At the lower edge of plate 8V is an inwardly turned and downwardly curved flange 11, shaped as shown in Fig. 1, to fit upon the curved upper surface of the boxrwall just inside the opening. The flange 11 is cut away at both ends, as shown at 12, Fig. 2. The plate 8, gasket 7 and lid 2 are secured together by rivets 13. (To the turned over ends of the flange 9, are secured the upper `ends of helical springs 14; said springs extend downward preferably in a vertical direction and have their lower ends fastened to rivet pins 15 fixed in the side walls of the box.

In order to open the box, the operator grasps thel upper edge of the lid and swings it outwardly and downwardly against the tension of the springs: see dotted lines, Fig. 1.

The 'flange l1 on plato S than turning on the box surface, the inner edge of flange G moves inwardly toward the box: andv as the upper ends of the springs move outwardly, their body portions are received in the spaces 12 formed by cutting away the flange 11. `When the lid is released, the springs 14 bring it back to closed position.

The following features are to be especially noted. It is well known that the constant vertical movement of the lids of car boxes, due to the jolting of the cars, prevents the making of a tight oint between lid and box, and also produces rapid wear of the pivot connection by which the lid is usually attached at its upper edge to the box. By my construction there is no similar pivoting of the lid and when the lid is in closed position, the downward and vertical pull of the springs counteracts any possible displacement of it due to up and down jolting, while the horizontal component of the force exerted by said springs retains the lid tightly on its seat. The broad bearing surface of the flange 11 upon the rounded box wall is always maintained tight by the component of force which the springs exert in the plane of the lid.

By reason of the aforesaid construction the joint between the lid and box is rendered dust proof, and wear between lid and box is rendered dust proof, and wear between lid and box is reduced to a minimum.

I claim:

l. In combination with a car axle box having the outer edges of the walls bounding its opening disposed in a plane inclined to the vertical, an outwardly swinging lid constructed to cover said opening, a curved flange on the inner side of said lid constructed to bear on an upwardly curved portion of the wall of said box below said opening, the said portion forming a fulcrum whereon said lid swings, and means within said box and connected to said box and to said lid above said fulcrum for normally holding said lid in closed position.

2. In combination with a car axle box having the outer edges of the walls bounding its opening disposed in a plane inclined to the vertical, an outwardly swinging lid constructed to cover said opening and having flanges at its upper and lower edges overlapping the edges of said opening, a curved flange on the inner side of said lid constructed to bear onan upwardly curved portion of the wall of said box below said opening, the said portion forming a fulcrum Whereon said lid swings, and a spring within said box and connected to said ox and to said lid above said fulcrum for normally exerting downward strain upon said lid when in closed position.

3. In combination with a car axle box having the outer edges ofthe walls bounding its opening disposed in a plane inclined to the vertical, an outwardly swinging lid constructed to cover said opening, a curved flange on the inner side of said lid constructed to bear on an upwardly curved portion of the wall of said box below said opening, a flange on the inner side of said lid above said curved iiange, and helical springs connected at their upper extremities to the ends of said side walls of said box. r r fr 4. In combination with a car [axle-box' l having an openin in its front wall, an outwardly swinging `d everywhere ree from said iront wall, said lid being sup orted near its lower edge on the box, an constructed and arranged to cover said opening, and a spring within and connected at one end to said box, and having its other end connected to said lid above its support for normally exerting downward strain upon said lid when in closed position.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. GAMAGE. Witnesses:

GERTRUDE T. PORTER, MAY S. MGGARRY. 

